In this photo April 11, 2013 file photo, Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American correspondent for the Washington Post. (Vahid Salemi)

(Newser)
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Iran's judiciary said Sunday that a verdict has been issued in the case of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who has been detained for more than a year on espionage allegations, but did not say what the verdict is. "The verdict has been issued," a judiciary spokesman said, per the official IRNA news agency. The rep said the verdict can be appealed within 20 days. He said he did not know if the verdict had been given to Rezaian or his lawyer, Leila Ahsan. Calls to Ahsan and to Rezaian's wife, Yeganeh Salehi, were not immediately returned. The Post's executive editor, Martin Baron, called the statement "vague and puzzling" and said it "only adds to the injustice that has surrounded Jason's case." He said the newspaper has no further information. "It is not clear whether this ruling includes a verdict or a sentence—or even whether its contents have been communicated to Jason or his lawyer," Baron said in an email.

The Post maintains Rezaian is innocent and has repeatedly pressed for his release. It says he was held for months in isolation without access to a lawyer, and later had only limited opportunity with his legal counsel before his trial began. "The only thing that has ever been clear about this case is Jason's innocence," Baron said. "If a ruling has been issued, this puts on the onus on Iran's senior leaders to demonstrate the fairness and justice that could only lead to Jason's exoneration and release." Rezaian reportedly faces up to 20 years in prison. His trial was heard in Revolutionary Court, which typically hears cases involving national security and other sensitive issues. The judge in the case, Abolghassem Salavati, is known for his tough sentences and has heard other politically charged cases.